大象传媒

Donald Macleod is joined by Chi-chi Nwanoku to explore Beethoven鈥檚 writing for the double bass.

Throughout this week, Donald Macleod meets with different professional musicians to get a performer's eye view of Beethoven鈥檚 music and the challenges it presents.

During Beethoven鈥檚 life, great technical advances were being made to musical instruments such as the keyboard and the horn. It was also a period when virtuoso musicians of all kinds began to tour Europe and Beethoven was able to meet some of the greatest exponents of different instruments and learn from them. He was inspired to push the limits of his performers as never before, and his works continue to fascinate and challenge musicians today.

Today, Donald Macleod is joined by Chi-chi Nwanoku to explore Beethoven from the perspective of a double bassist. Chi-chi shares her thoughts on what it鈥檚 like to perform and record Beethoven on a regular basis, and also her experience of working with conductor, Sir Roger Norrington and following Beethoven precise tempo markings. Donald and Chi-chi also discuss the impact the virtuoso bass player Domenico Dragonetti had on Beethoven's music.

Composer of the Week is returning to the story of Beethoven鈥檚 life and music throughout 2020 as part of Radio 3鈥檚 Beethoven Unleashed season marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven鈥檚 birth.

Symphony No 6 in F, Op 68 鈥淧astoral鈥� (Donner. Sturm)
Vienna Philharmonic
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Symphony No 7 in A, Op 92 (Allegro con brio)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Septet in E flat, Op 20 (Scherzo)
The Nash Ensemble

Symphony No 9 in D minor, Op 125 鈥淐horal鈥� (Presto)
Rebecca Nash, soprano
Wilke te Brummelstroete, mezzo-soprano
Marcel Beekman, tenor
Michael Tews, bass
Laurens Collegium
Laurens Cantorij
Orchestra of the 18th Century
Frans Bruggen, director

Produced by Luke Whitlock for 大象传媒 Wales.